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Physics and Driving 101

“An object in motion will not change its velocity unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.”

– Sir Isaac Newton, Principia Mathematica

Newton published this First Law of motion 323 years ago, so it hasn’t been new news for more than three centuries. In non-geek speak, what it essentially says is that when a large object is speeding in your direction, get the hell out of the way because it is unlikely to stop. As it turns out, that is a pretty good basic driving tip too. A related tip would be that when you’re merging into traffic and encounter a 20,000 lb recreational vehicle moving at 65 mph on your left and a yield sign on your right, it is probably a good idea to, um, you know . . . yield?